Contra
“I vote my conscience for what I think is right, and I’m willing to accept that,” Barrett told a reporter Wednesday when asked if he’s worried Trump might come after him for his vote. Barrett’s district is one of 18 toss-up districts in this year’s midterms, according to Cook Political Report.
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Tangent
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires Congress to approve U.S. military conflicts that extend past 60 days. The deadline for the Iran war was May 1, but Trump has argued he doesn’t need Congress’ approval because a ceasefire between the two sides took effect April 8. There have been several exchanges of crossfire between the U.S. and Iran despite the ceasefire. Trump has downplayed that fighting, telling reporters Wednesday, “in that part of the world, ceasefire is when you’re shooting in a more moderate manner.”
Crucial Quote
“It’s not a big thing for us,” Trump told reporters about the Iran war on Wednesday, repeating his claim that it’s just a “detour.” Trump has consistently tried to dismiss polls that show the war is widely unpopular and causing increased financial anxiety among Americans, as gas prices have surged amid the conflict. He told reporters last month he wasn’t “even a little bit” concerned about Americans’ financial situations when making decisions about the war. “The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran—they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
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Key Background
Iran and the U.S. appeared closer than ever to reaching a deal to end the war last week after U.S. sources said a tentative agreement had been reached, and Trump announced Friday he was in the process of making a “final determination” whether to accept the deal. The plan would extend the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S., require Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, allow the U.S. to extract its enriched uranium and agree to restart negotiations to end its nuclear program. The U.S. would, in turn, lift some financial sanctions on Iran, U.S. officials said. Talks stalled earlier this week, largely over continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which Iran has said is a violation of the April ceasefire. Hezbollah on Thursday rejected a new ceasefire agreed to by Lebanon and Israel, with the group’s security-general, Sheikh Naim Qassam, calling the negotiations “absurd” and “humiliating” in a statement on the group’s TV channel, referring to the agreement as “an illusion” and “a roadmap for the destruction of part of the Lebanese people and the enslavement of the rest.”
further reading
Trump: ‘I Don’t Care’ About Iran Suspending Peace Negotiations (Forbes)
Trump Says Democrats And Some ‘Unpatriotic’ Republicans Are Making Iran Talks ‘Tougher’ (Forbes)
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Trump Making ‘Final Determination’ On Iran Deal (Forbes)